Many people find that the side effects of chemotherapy leave them feeling nauseous, or they struggle to swallow due to a dry mouth or sore throat. As a result, eating your normal foods can become a challenge, rather than something to look forward to.

If this sounds familiar, you may find it easier to get the essential nutrients you need in a more liquid form – which is why foods like smoothies are a great idea for cancer patients.

To give you some inspiration, here are some super tasty smoothie recipes, which use delicious ingredients that will also give your immune system a boost during chemotherapy treatment:

Smoothie recipe 4: Power spice turmeric

Turmeric may seem like an unusual ingredient to include in a smoothie, but it has long been used in Asian medicine to fight symptoms such as sickness, pain and inflammation.

Early scientific studies have also shown that curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, has been shown to help stop new cancerous cells from growing (use alongside conventional medicine, not in place of!).

There are thousands of other smoothie recipes available online, so if these don’t appeal to you, find your own delicious tasting alternatives.

Giving your smoothie an extra boost

Although these smoothies are already packed with immune-boosting ingredients, you can add further nutritional value to them by mixing in some protein powder, or soluble vitamin and mineral supplements.

This is an especially good idea if you’re finding it difficult to eat solid food or are suffering from sickness. Supplements can help you to maintain a nutritionally balanced diet and fight the side effects of chemotherapy.

Talk to your doctor about which supplements are best to add to your smoothie recipe. In fact, it’s good to have a conversation with your healthcare team before you give them a go, just to check that all the natural ingredients you’re planning to use will not react with your medication.